Ideas to brighten up a dark room
Does your home feels too dark? Dark and dingy rooms become cold and uninviting making even the basic activities difficult. A poorly lit home can be enhanced by illuminating the rooms to provide better and comfortable ambiance. Here are some ideas to make a dark and dingy room a brighter one.
Install designed overhead light fixtures:
One of the most effective ways to brighten up a dark room is to install overhead light fixtures. They help in illuminating and brightening an overall area. The most popular light fixtures are recessed lights which are an ideal option due to their simplistic and easy installation feature. They can also be installed throughout the ceiling surface and cover the maximum room area.
Another option would be the track lighting as it has an option to adjust the individual light heads which can be focused on particular areas in the dark room. In fact, one can go in for designed overhead light fixtures. The greatest advantage of a light fixture is that they do not take up floor or table space and that they are operational from wall switches.
Add a skylight:
A dark room without large windows and exterior walls will not allow sufficient light inside. In such cases, a skylight is the best effective way to get natural light indoors. A skylight is a window which is available in various shapes and sizes and is installed in the ceiling of a dark room. A large room can have a traditional skylight or a skylight which can improve the ventilation as well. However, small dark rooms can have a tubular skylight as it requires less ceiling space for installation.
A lighter paint shade:
Apart from just lights and light fixtures, the color of a room also plays an important role in illuminating the room. It is advisable that a dark room is painted with a lighter shade as it reflects the present light in the room. Lighter shades also make the room look spacious and bright. Likewise, a bright white shade in a dark room will reflect ample amount of light making the room look too bright. However, an off-white shade can be used to create moderate lighting effects.
White floors:
Just like white walls/light painted walls, white or light colored floors can make a dark room look brighter. However, with most of the floors carpeted, the white floor is less exposed. In such cases, white, shiny vinyl carpets can be used in a bedroom or a living room. Areas like bathroom and attic can have white tiled flooring. Do not fret if you have rooms with wooden flooring, as they can be painted with white glossy paint bringing in more light.
Opt for types of lamps:
They might not illuminate a large area but are quite portable and help in lighting up a specific area. Lamps are available in various shapes, sizes and designs. In fact, lamps can also be hand made with crepe paper and LED lights.
Go in for task lighting:
If you have a specific place for your regular activities in a dark room, you can consider adding task lights in those areas. These lights can be installed under cabinets, over counters and above seating areas. Their main purpose would be to illuminate a specific area in a dark room.
Higher intensity bulbs instead of normal lights:
Dark rooms can be illuminated with higher intensity bulbs which are measured in foot candles or CFLs with a lower wattage and higher light input. Subtle colored lights can also be experimented to illuminate a dark room.
Diffused lighting:
A dark room can be illuminated through diffused lighting. Multiple diffused lights can be installed pointed towards the ceiling and the walls. By doing so, the reflected light provides a soft overhead glow by minimizing the harsh shadows.
Mirrors:
One of the cheapest methods to illuminate a dark room is to install mirrors. Mirrors in a dark room reflect the natural light and will make the room look larger and brighter.
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